Effects of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) density on the survival and growth of juvenile fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas): Implications for North American river fishes

Cecil A. Jennings

doi:10.1007/bf00018177

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Effects of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) density on the survival and growth of juvenile fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas): Implications for North American river fishes

Cecil A. Jennings

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Abstract

I used replicated 37.8 1 aquaria in a factorial design (four densities of zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha ; two hydrologic regimes) to determine if the survival or growth of juvenile fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ) was affected by the density of zebra mussel or by the retention time of the test system. None of the fathead minnows died during the 30-d experiment. However, growth of fathead minnows was lower ( P <0.05) at the highest (3000 m −2 ) than at the lowest density of mussels (0 m −2 ). Fish growth was not affected by water retention time or the interaction of water retention time and mussel density ( P >0.05). These laboratory results suggest that juvenile fish survival will not be affected by low to moderate densities of mussels (0–3000 m −2 ) but fish growth might be adversely affected at moderate densities of mussels (e.g., 3000 m −2 ).

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Cecil A. Jennings. 1996. Effects of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) density on the survival and growth of juvenile fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas): Implications for North American river fishes. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00018177

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